/srv/irclogs.ubuntu.com/2016/04/15/#ubuntustudio.txt

erick_Hi,15:58
Kimrydohaioh15:58
erick_I have been looking for Linux Sound Enhancement for the longest time.15:59
erick_And I found this SoundPim -> http://soundpimp.com/guidelines/computer-audio-enhancer-linux/15:59
erick_I wonder if anyone has ever used ones similar.16:00
erick_I also use Pulse Audio Equalizer, but it is not the best.16:02
KimrydWhy are you using this?16:02
KimrydThe Soundpimp thing is doing more than EQ16:02
OvenWerkserick_: what does that SW do? Their web page doesn't seem too say so much... seems to just mangle left and right audio by adding subtracting bits of audio.16:03
OvenWerksIt assumes a particular for of recording that does not really get used that much.16:03
OvenWerks*particular type16:04
erick_Pulse Audio Eqaulizer was the only thing I could find.16:04
KimrydLooks like it oversamples too16:04
KimrydAt least that bold at the top says that too16:04
OvenWerkseq almost always uses over sample.16:04
Kimrydto me*16:04
KimrydYes but are you needlessly oversampling it to 192?16:04
KimrydI doubt it16:04
KimrydSource on EQs oversampling?16:05
OvenWerksusing an output of 48k is probably optimal16:05
Kimrydoversampling to 48 from 44.1 is useless16:05
KimrydIf your source is 44.1 it will stay that way16:06
KimrydJust like you can't convert an mp3 to flac and get higher quality16:06
OvenWerksoversampleing suring DSP is quite common, but the output is then presented as low16:06
erick_Back in Windows day, this DFX sound enhancer, was what I used to make sound pretty http://www.fxsound.com/16:06
KimrydI know, but it's an option16:06
zequencesirriffsalot_: You're from Norway?16:06
OvenWerksyes, but the source would rarely be 44.1 any more.16:06
erick_I want to find something similar in Linux :)16:06
zequencesirriffsalot_: Just listening to the link you posted earlier16:07
zequence(well, yesterday)16:07
KimrydYes it would, if you pass 44.1 through and EQ, even if the EQ oversamples, your source is still 44.1 quality16:07
KimrydIt will come out as 48 or whatnot, but still have everything the 44.1 did and nothing more16:07
erick_I heard you.16:08
KimrydNot talking to you16:08
OvenWerksmost soundcards have analog circuitry that deals with 48k best. The only place 44.1 is standard is on CDs which are dying out. Video is 48k, broadcast is 48 k16:08
erick_Oh16:08
OvenWerksI think music made for Itunes is 48k16:09
KimrydDoubt it16:09
KimrydSoundcards run at 44.1 by default16:09
OvenWerksno16:09
KimrydYes, they do, just open your on board settings and look16:09
OvenWerksThe HDA/AC97 buss is 48k16:09
OvenWerksUbuntu has changed things from the devs default to 44.1 so what?16:10
KimrydIt's still besides the point, okay so it's 48. That doesn't address that oversampling will not increase the specctrum of a recording because it is already recorded16:10
OvenWerksThere are a number of audio interfaces that are 48k only... like a lot of laptop mics for example.16:10
KimrydI know16:10
OvenWerksThat much is correct.16:11
erick_I see.16:11
OvenWerksskype and opus (html5 audio standard also put 48k out)16:11
erick_May I ask if we have any sound enhancer in linux?16:12
KimrydI myself do everything in 48, my interface can go up to 192 but that's really, really overkill for a lot of things16:12
erick_I want to make my OS sound prettier.16:12
KimrydDefine prettier?16:12
OvenWerksprettier is as always, in the ear of the beholder.16:12
erick_Youtube, skype, vlc and many software should sound better.16:13
KimrydThen tell them to upload better quality recordings16:13
OvenWerksbetter?16:13
OvenWerksUse/demand flac files.16:14
erick_Yes, when I was using Windows, this would help http://www.fxsound.com/16:14
KimrydYou can increase your sample rate but look at the entire conversation we just had to see why that would have very little effect16:14
KimrydVLC has an EQ16:14
Kimrydand more16:14
OvenWerksmost people feel something "sounds better" just by inceasing the level 3 dB (or even less)16:14
erick_I tried using VLC EQ, and it only helps a bit.16:15
OvenWerkserick_: so you are effectively saying that who got paid $20k plus per song to master it doesn't know what good sound is?16:15
KimrydYou need to understand that you can't magically make things sound  "better" but what I see as better in my mind is probably not what you do16:15
Kimrydahaha it's really not that simple16:16
KimrydSo what they were paid that, what format are you listening to? 192 kbps mp3?16:16
KimrydWhat are you listening with?16:16
KimrydWhat is your soundcard16:16
OvenWerksyes :)16:16
KimrydHow good are your ears16:16
Kimrydetc16:16
OvenWerksThat is exactly the point16:16
erick_I got what you said, but sometime enhance the sound a little bit is better.16:17
erick_Let's say youtube video, for example. Let's the software enhance it a little bit.16:18
OvenWerksThe list of linux VSTs, LADSPA, LV2 plugins is long. almost all of them change (I hesitate to use the word enhance) the audio.16:18
erick_Or even skype, with sound enhancer, it should sound better.16:19
OvenWerks"enhance" means something different for each and every track.16:19
KimrydIndeed enhance is very vague and if you were to just, I don't know, put a stereo expander on it, it would probably not be very good16:19
OvenWerksskype audio is enhanced already16:19
KimrydEQ is kind of all you kind do, as everything else will mess with audio more, meaning that your enhancing can easily turn out to be the oppositet16:20
OvenWerksskype has some of the very best echo cancel in the business16:20
Kimrydfeel?\16:20
erick_I see.16:20
KimrydUsing EQ you can compensate for the mediocrity of speakers16:20
KimrydAnd that can do A LOT16:21
OvenWerks(and room)16:21
erick_I see.16:21
OvenWerksgood speakers can still do a lot more.16:21
Kimrydoh boy lol, yeah, You can also spend a bunch of money on treatment for your room but16:21
KimrydYou're better of just listening with better stuff16:21
OvenWerks:)16:21
OvenWerksbut youtube is GIGO16:22
erick_So we don't have good sound enhancer software, then?16:22
OvenWerksyou can't put back what is gone.16:22
erick_I could only find soundpim.16:22
erick_How do you listen to youtube video well?16:23
OvenWerkserick_: you want a package that just does something you don't know that "sounds better", you are not willing to findout what it is that makes things sound better. The tools are all there, but you have to know how to use them.16:23
erick_I see.16:24
OvenWerksI listen to youtube with the expectation that the quality is going to be less than good to be able to fit into a live stream bandwidth16:24
OvenWerksI put on a CD I expect better quality... and I get it.16:25
erick_Right.16:25
erick_You can also use VLC to watch youtube video, and using its EQ.16:26
OvenWerks I put on a high quality flac and I might do even better, a well done OGG with out bandwidth throttling (or even MP3) will still sound better than youtube.16:27
erick_I know, but you still need youtube.16:27
OvenWerksI don't have great speakers, but good enough. (old Peavy network c-700s)16:28
OvenWerksneed? no one "needs" youtube. That is just pure faulse.16:29
erick_I guess there is no too many sound enhancer in linux, then.16:29
OvenWerksFalse even16:29
OvenWerksYou seem to have missed everything I (and others) have said16:29
erick_I will look some more ....16:29
OvenWerksThere are probably no majic box SW that changes EQ and boosts level and calls itself an enhanser, for linux no.16:30
OvenWerksbut you can do the same thing yourself with the tools that are around.16:31
erick_Why not though?16:31
erick_I wish someone wrote them.16:31
erick_Even game developer would need to adjust sound some time.16:32
zequenceA master of the tools can do wonders with just an EQ and a Comp in the master channel, while a beginner can have all the tools in the world, and it won't help a thing16:42
zequenceSure, there are some things that a computer can do, by analyzing the sound waves, but it doesn't replace a good ear16:43
zequenceas well as experience16:43
sirriffsalot_zequence, sorry, yeah I'm from Norway17:15
sirriffsalot_zequence, why? Is it that obvious? :D17:15
zequencesirriffsalot_: I saw that from the site. Was familiar, but wasn't sure if it was Danish or Norwegian at first17:21
zequenceI live in Sweden myself (though, I consider myself Finnish by identity)17:21
sirriffsalot_zequence, tjena :)17:34
zequencesirriffsalot_: tjena, tjena :)17:35
sirriffsalot_zequence, you mean by location of birth?17:35
zequenceI'm in Gothenburg, actually, so not so far from Norway17:35
sirriffsalot_Man.. Gothenburg, so much of the music I like comes from there17:36
zequenceLocation and birth is Sweden, but my parents are from Finland. Also, I grew up in an area where maybe 1/4 were from Finland. That was the 80s17:36
zequenceSo, I didn't learn my first Swedish words until I was 5, and I only started Swedish school in 4th grade (after having done 3 years in Finnish speaking school)17:37
zequenceNot so well integrated, so to speak17:37
zequenceTo be very specific, I would say I'm a "finsk göteborgare"17:38
zequencesirriffsalot_: Not "At the Gates" I presume?17:38
sirriffsalot_Hehe, yeah... I visit Helsinki often.. finnish is a bitch17:38
sirriffsalot_zequence, all of the swedish metal peeps :)17:38
zequenceOh, cool17:38
sirriffsalot_zequence, first CD I ever got when I was a kid was Clayman, so17:39
zequenceReally? Well, for me, being an older generation, In Flames was a sort of At the Gates rip-off17:39
zequenceKind of pop :)17:39
zequenceGreat musicians17:41
zequenceVery nordic too, I suppose17:41
zequencesirriffsalot_: Is it your music, in the link?17:43
zequenceI suppose all done with ardour?17:43
sirriffsalot_zequence, of course it is, they even list them as an influence, but damn good stuff, suits my taste well. Not so much these days though. Yeah all that is mine, done in the GNU/Lin homestudio :)17:58
zequencesirriffsalot_: Coolt. I'm doing some of my own metal recording in GBG right now, on Ubuntu Studio (even though I use Debian on my daily computer). Hope to share that within the year17:59
sirriffsalot_GBG?18:00
zequenceA friend of mine, who I share the studio with, is doing some At the Gates kind of music. And, the singer in Dark Tranquility is going to add vox to it18:00
zequenceGBG = Gothenburg18:00
zequenceBut, my music is not as much At the Gates, I would say18:01
sirriffsalot_Ah hehe :D Lucky bastard for getting him involved!18:01
sirriffsalot_zequence, got some demos or something to give a flavour of your stuff?18:01
zequencesirriffsalot_: NOt really, at this point, sorry. Maybe in a few months18:02
zequencesirriffsalot_: I could give you something that is absolutely not what I'm doing, a song I did one day, just for the fun of it18:02
zequenceBut, it reflects the sound of the studio, somewhat. Not exactly well mixed18:03
zequenceLet's see...18:03
sirriffsalot_zequence, hit me :)18:03
zequencesirriffsalot_: https://cloud.mousike.me/index.php/s/bM6ZLRDbPTx0bvm18:05
zequenceDoesn't actually reflect the sound of the studio so well. It's not a good mix at all, but it's a song18:05
zequenceI could pass another couple of links. This is for a doom project, which I've been involved in for may years. Not a song, but a few ideas put together https://cloud.mousike.me/index.php/s/H0L4uNXkukJtBfH18:06
zequenceAlso, I did this Meshuggah cover one day. The final mix/master is somehow getting towards the right place, but I had a few problems with the original sounds https://cloud.mousike.me/index.php/s/NvEjaE8k4pMNP7a18:07
zequenceI play all the instruments, also the vox, which I haven't done for maybe 15 years, so I need to warm that up a bit18:08
sirriffsalot_Wish I had your drum skills :(18:09
zequenceI'm working on the skills still. The most work the past year has been on getting the sound right. Learning how to tune stuff properly, and what materials, and what mics to use18:10
zequenceI only have 8 channels, and not enough cash for more mics anyway, so a simple 2 mic setup on the overhead18:10
sirriffsalot_zequence, I have to say I'm tempted to jazz up the long notes with my way of riffing things... But you probably heard I do nothing but riff after riff after riff lol :)18:11
sirriffsalot_zequence, there's something about the snare-recording that's out of place I think18:11
sirriffsalot_zequence, or just that the pace isn't quick enough for that style of drumming, not sure yet18:12
zequencesirriffsalot_: It's unevenly played, badly mixed, and who knows what else18:12
sirriffsalot_zequence, ah yeah, drums need some fine mixing then18:13
sirriffsalot_zequence, perhaps a little stereo reverb on the final oscillation noise with the guitar before it ends?18:13
zequenceThe snare head for the first link is a Remo Ambassador, very highly pitched. I only used it for a couple of weeks. Have a different setup now18:13
zequencesirriffsalot_: Oh, you're talking fine details now. The first song, I did the whole song and the recording the same day18:14
zequence..and the mix18:14
sirriffsalot_zequence, wish I was that competent in writing songs haha, I take ages... too many ages18:14
zequenceI don't actually do that kind of music normally. If I did, I could do one a day, or more, easily.18:15
sirriffsalot_zequence, your vocals as well you said? Pretty damn good18:15
zequenceYeah, but I need to work more on those18:15
zequenceI was surprised from that recording how well it sounded though. So, I'm actually starting to believe I can do the vocals myself, which is very liberating18:16
zequenceIn the past, I've always had to depend on a vocalist, and that usually doesn't end well18:16
sirriffsalot_zequence, is it not kind of an irony that a doom metal project plays The Struggle Is Finally Over...? :D Not to discourage you18:16
zequencesirriffsalot_: Oh, it has a specific meaning for me.18:17
zequenceThe phrase, that is.18:17
sirriffsalot_zequence, okay good, then keep it :)18:17
sirriffsalot_zequence, lucky you, I'm about as limited a vocalist as you can get18:18
zequencesirriffsalot_: How is that?18:18
sirriffsalot_zequence, well, without a studio I pretty much suck, haha :D Need to work my ass off keeping vocals warm or it just doesn't work18:18
zequenceThat is what I used to think, and still do. Particularly about ranges. But, I'm learning how to use my own charasteristics better now18:18
sirriffsalot_That's what I'm easing into as well18:19
zequenceSo much is in the head18:19
zequenceI used to try to sound like something that was not me at all18:19
sirriffsalot_Black Soul reminds me of Scar Symmetry18:19
sirriffsalot_Particularly the Pitch Black Progress album18:20
zequenceOh, the title is actually wrong. Supposed to be Catch Thirty Five18:20
zequenceThat's the Meshuggah cover18:20
zequenceThe album Catch Thirty Three18:20
sirriffsalot_Yeah the sound I meant18:20
zequenceOk18:20
zequenceThat was the first recording I managed to get somewhat good.18:21
zequenceThe drumming is painfully uneven. I was tired as hell, while recording that18:21
zequenceI do have a track called Black Soul, a song I wrote about 20 years ago18:22
sirriffsalot_I have to admit I don't hear inconsistencies in the drums too much18:22
sirriffsalot_Sounds pretty tight to me18:22
zequenceThe tag "Black Soul" was accidentally passed on to the Meshuggah cover18:23
zequencehttps://cloud.mousike.me/index.php/s/lEyVRxXajGR4XY318:24
zequenceKind of Meshuggah inspired, but believe it or not, this song was created between 1995-199618:24
zequenceI was going for the same sort of thing they were, inspired by Pantera to a great deal, just as they were18:25
zequenceI don't do 4/4 so much18:25
zequenceSo, less square, if you like18:25
zequenceNo vocals yet. That was just a test recording18:26
zequenceSo far, I've mostly been using ardour and calf plugins18:27
zequenceHaven't really become more familiar with a wider range of plugins yet18:27
zequenceLooking for good reverbs18:27
zequenceParticularly for drums18:27
sirriffsalot_zequence, that's way above me, I struggle doing sequencing right, as I'm so basic when it comes to drumming haha18:29
sirriffsalot_zequence, 96? Wtf? Sounds heavy for that time18:30
zequenceA B A B form on the song. A₁ = 3/2 B₁ = 7/4 A₂ = varied B₂ = 7/4. Pretty simple18:30
zequenceWe had a band called Unhealth, which was actually going places, until there were some classic internal problems18:31
zequenceWe had some success at around -97. Simpler music, so that we could achieve playing the music, basically. But, that ended at about -98. So, no one ever heard of us18:32
zequenceSimpler than Black Soul, that is18:32
zequenceThis is one of the old recordings from that period https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kTYmVcWsvE18:33
zequenceWith the original singer, and the rest of the band. Recorded on an 8 channel porta, with lousy mics18:33
sirriffsalot_zequence, classic problems are? :D18:34
zequenceI did all of the music, and the lyrics even. Mostly because no one else was doing it18:34
zequenceYep18:34
sirriffsalot_zequence, I only recently got into regular-rehearsal bands, so you're gonna have to tell me hehe18:35
zequencesirriffsalot_: Phew. I hate rehearsals. But, that's not the main problem. The main problem is to keep a project alive long enough to finish it somehow18:36
zequencePeople tend to want one thing one second, and something else the next second, and if your life doesn't depend on it, it may be hard to motivate people to continue18:37
sirriffsalot_zequence, yeah I could see that happening already18:37
zequenceGood, efficient organization, with good turnout probably helps18:37
zequenceAt the time, we were 18-20, so we had lots to learn18:38
zequenceNot only girls like to have fun, you know18:39
zequenceIt's like a konstant in the human genome18:39
zequence*constant18:39
zequencesirriffsalot_: I liked how the music you linked to was very freely formed.18:40
zequenceCould it be inspired by lyrics very much?18:41
sirriffsalot_zequence, yeah, no structure whatsoever lol :) I'll need to be more methodical so I can get the best of both worlds, but Maria Mena does that a lot as she really wants it to be about something instead of a pop-song18:42
zequencesirriffsalot_:  I like that18:42
sirriffsalot_zequence, the only way it can be freely formed is without a regular beat mostly, so18:42
sirriffsalot_Now that I have a drummer with me I have to learn to keep up with her lol18:43
zequencePeople are pretty dumb with time. It can either be in 1/2 or 1/3. Else, it's too complicated. Even 5/4 is more like 3/4 + 2/418:43
sirriffsalot_zequence, incidentally if you find yourself real bored with nothing to do and feel like drumming, listen to this track and if you like it try to set some proper drums to it, it's been rotting digitally in my machine for ages :P https://www.dropbox.com/s/q42wyh5nm2pp6nw/VMAtilZequence.wav?dl=018:44
zequencesirriffsalot_: I might just take you up on that, one GNU brother to the next ;)18:45
sirriffsalot_zequence, there's a synth-part version in the beginning that I had to leave out, too much work finding the stuff at the moment18:45
sirriffsalot_Let me know and I'll give you the file without those lame-ass drums pooping away the track haha18:45
zequencesirriffsalot_: dropbox is probably slower than my bahnhof18:47
sirriffsalot_zequence, should have .ogged it first, sorry18:47
zequencesirriffsalot_: No problem. Just fun to top them18:47
zequenceThe links I posted are from my living room18:48
sirriffsalot_zequence, not very hard...18:48
sirriffsalot_Hehe18:48
zequencesirriffsalot_: What kind of vision do you have for this track? What kind of emotion, atmosphere are you looking for?18:49
sirriffsalot_<z18:50
zequenceNOt something metal people usually think a lot of, but it helps me from not doing something random18:50
sirriffsalot_zequence, ups. I actually made it after seeing the ridiculous bouts of outcries in the VMA-performance of MIley Cyrus lol18:50
sirriffsalot_The feeling is basically "look at this stupid bullshit", it has lyrics but the vocals are so bad I just muted it haha18:50
zequenceOk, so it's ok if it's kind of shallow, in an artistic way?18:50
zequenceReminds me of Zappa somehow18:51
zequenceThe attitude you described, that is18:51
sirriffsalot_zequence, As in "look at this stupid culture-fodder we take seriously"18:52
zequencesirriffsalot_: Give me the track without drums, if you please. You can send it to my email, if you want -> zequence@mousike.me18:53
zequencesirriffsalot_: If you don't hear anything from me within a couple of weeks, please poke, cause it doesn't mean I have forgotten about you18:54
zequencesirriffsalot_: Is that Pod? It's not 2.0, but perhaps the one or two versions later?18:56
zequenceI use an old Peavy Supreme from 1996, or so, which cost me about 2600kr at the time18:57
zequenceI have a Mesa Boogie, but it's broken, and I don't have the cash to fix it. Not sure it is better though18:57
zequenceI will probably be blending my Peavy with a Pod2.0, or one of the virtual amps, guitarix or rakkarack18:58
sirriffsalot_zequence, Pod? It's a fender mustang I amp I think, haha18:59
sirriffsalot_zequence, will send it, sec18:59
zequencesirriffsalot_: Line 6 Pod. Maybe it's more common here19:00
sirriffsalot_zequence, never had one, hehe19:05
sirriffsalot_zequence, and since you're obviously guitar-oriented as well you're welcome to say "hey this could work there or like this" if you have any thoughts like that19:08
zequencesirriffsalot_: Cool. Then I might even re-cut the whole thing. I will try to to my Zappa thing as well as I can19:21
sirriffsalot_zequence, can you do one straight version and one cut? If you find the time to do it at all :P19:22
zequencesirriffsalot: Sure19:31
zequencesirriffsalot: btw, two reasons to use torrents. 1) faster 2) probably better results bit per bit19:38
zequence(very old discussion, probably one or two years old)19:38
sirriffsalotzequence, yeah, I've just been lazy all these years, haha :)19:41
sirriffsalotzequence, crap could you link me your email again?19:44
zequencesirriffsalot: zequence@mousike.me19:47
sirriffsalotzequence, sent! been a while since I heard that piece actually, haha19:53
sirriffsalotzequence, I left the chorus vocals in there because it's tolerable and gives a feel for the song as you requested I think19:54
zequencesirriffsalot: Did you forget to attach it perhaps?19:55
sirriffsalotzequence, ugh, say it isn't so...19:56
zequenceI'm kind of musical, but would be hard to pull it off just from the written description19:56
zequencehaha19:56
sirriffsalotHonestly that shit is just the worst... looks so lame on the screen for the person receiving it lol19:57
sirriffsalotOnce I forgot to add the CV to a mail... "Sorry, here it is."-mails are cringe worthy19:57
sirriffsalotAa, it was too big a file (wav)19:58
zequencesirriffsalot: CV -> hehe19:59
zequencesirriffsalot: Ok, I have fastmail. Don't know what their limit is19:59
sirriffsalotzequence, aaand SENT20:02
zequencesirriffsalot: It's pouring in, bit by bit20:03
personHieee! When can we expect the glorious new LTS 16?20:12
Unit193It is due to be released on April 21st.20:14
personHurray! Looking forward to it.20:14

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